Kimberly Adams Russell is taking over the role from her father, David Adams, marking the third generation to hold the title.
Mayfair Jewelers’ Shirley Kulchinsky dies at 86
Shirley Kulchinsky, the trailblazing matriarch of Long Island, N.Y. retailer Mayfair Jewelers, died Saturday.
Born on Feb. 11, 1929, Kulchinsky was in the jewelry business from the start. Her father was a custom peddler who bought his jewelry from a store on Canal Street in New York City owned by a man named Shmeil (Sam) Kulchinsky, the father of Shirley’s future husband, Seymour.
Seymour Kulchinsky was in the refinery and wholesale business in the city, as the family owned SDK Refining Company on Eldridge Street.
In the 1950s Shirley Kulchinsky talked him into settling down on Long Island and buying a retail store there. She was the reason Mayfair Jewelers, which was named after the shopping center it was in, began.
In the late 1960s, their oldest son Dan joined the family business, followed by grandchildren Justin and Lauren.
Shirley Kulchinsky was a trailblazer in the jewelry industry, her family said. She had an eye for new and exciting designers and she and her husband traveled the world to bring back the best jewels. She also was trusted and beloved by her clients, could talk to anyone and could “write books on how (to) sell.”
In addition to her position in the family business, Kulchinsky was a vice president of the National Association of Woman Business Owners, as she was a passionate believer in women having both a career in a family, a rarity for women of her generation.
She retired “kicking and screaming” to Florida, her family said; indeed, in a May 2013 profile of Mayfair Jewelers by The Centurion, her granddaughter Lauren Kulchinsky-Levison was quoted as saying that her grandmother, who was 83 at the time, would still work every day if the family allowed it.
Kulchinsky was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and “one hell of jeweler.”
“She was an elegant lady, an inspiration to many and will be missed,” her family said in a statement.
The Latest
As a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
Tradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
The company’s Easton location will remain open.
Brian D. Fleming of Carla Corporation was elected to serve a one-year term in the role.
Meet Ben Claus—grand prize winner of For the Love of Jewelers 2023 Fall Design Challenge.
Sponsored by the Las Vegas Antique Jewelry and Watch Show
Tobak, author of “Ice Cold: A Hip-Hop Jewelry History,” shares how the exhibition came to be, and the pieces people may be surprised to see.
Stars adorned themselves in emeralds, platinum, and myriad bird motifs, writes Associate Editor Natalie Francisco.
M.S. Rau is set to open a seasonal gallery in the high-end resort town early next month.
The branded jewelry market is thriving, said Richemont Chairman Johann Rupert.
The six designers, all participants in the show’s Diversity Action Council mentorship program, will exhibit in Salon 634.
The highlight of his collection is the coveted Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime, which could sell for up to $5 million.
The “Venetian Link” series modernizes the classic Veneziana box chain in its bracelets and necklaces.
The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship will provide tuition assistance to two low-income students.
The Swiss watchmaker said the company’s plans to use a new version of the Hallmark crown on jewelry would confuse consumers.
The executive talked about the importance of self-purchasers and how fuel cell electric vehicles are going to fuel demand for platinum.
The Indian jeweler’s new store in Naperville, Illinois marks its 350th location, part of its ongoing global expansion plans.
It will award a graduating high school student with about $10,000 toward a GIA diploma and an internship with the Seattle-based jeweler.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado police took a 50-year-old man into custody Wednesday following a two-month search.
PGI partnered with four new and seven returning designers for its annual platinum capsule collection.
Nicolosi, president and CEO of The Kingswood Company, previously sat on WJA’s board from 2011 to 2018.
Karina Brez’s race-ready piece is a sophisticated nod to the horse-rider relationship.
The men are allegedly responsible for stealing millions in jewelry and other valuables in 43 burglaries in 25 towns across Massachusetts.
“Horizon” invites individuals to explore the limitless possibilities that lie ahead, said the brand.